Ball Stopping Net

ABSTRACT

A ball stopping net is provided, which includes a loop, propping poles, fold-butting poles, hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics, and a net. Each of the two propping poles comprises an upper end and a lower end, and the upper end is curved and engaged rotatably with a mid point of a corresponding side portion of the loop. Each of the two fold-butting poles comprises a first arm and a second arm engaging each other with a hinge, and the first arm is connected to a lower point of the loop rotatably and the second arm is connected to a lower point of a corresponding propping pole rotatably. Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics has three queuing sides and three plain sides alternatively, and are queued through the queuing side of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a ball stopping net. More particularly,this invention relates to a propping device for ball stopping net, whichcan hold the net with a simple structure strongly.

Surely there may be a plenty of possible improvements in theconventional ball stopping net.

Accordingly, a need for a propping device for ball stopping net has beenpresent for a long time considering the expansive demands in theeveryday life. This invention is directed to solve these problems andsatisfy the long-felt need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantages of the priorart.

An object of the invention is to provide a ball stopping net.

An aspect of the invention provides a ball stopping net comprising aloop, four fabric corner-holders, four fabric side-holders, two proppingpoles, two fold-butting poles, two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics, anda net.

The loop has a top portion, two side portions, and a bottom portion.

The four fabric corner-holders are provided at four corners of the loopand configured to hold and make a substantially rectangular shape whendeployed.

The four fabric side-holders are provided at four sides on the loop andconfigured to hold the four sides on the loop.

Each of the two propping poles comprises an upper end and a lower end,and the upper end engages with a first queuing hole provided at an upperpoint of a corresponding fabric side-holder of the loop and the lowerend is anchored on a ground point behind the loop.

Each of the two fold-butting poles comprises a first arm and a secondarm engaging each other with a hinge, and the first arm engages with asecond queuing hole provided at a lower point of a corresponding fabricside-holder of the loop and the second arm is connected to a lower pointof a corresponding propping pole rotatably, such that the hinge isconfigured to be folded and straightened.

Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics has three queuing sidesand three plain sides alternatingly, and each of the three queuing sidesis configured to hold one of the side portion of the loop, the proppingpoles, and the fold-butting pole that are queued through the queuingside of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric.

The net with edges is attached to the loop, the net being configured toreceive, decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile therein.

The queuing sides holding the loop may be provided in fixed forms.

The queuing sides holding the propping pole and the fold-butting polemay be provided detachably.

Each of the queuing sides holding the propping pole and the fold-buttingpole may comprise a queuing hole provided through an edge of the queuingside.

The hexagonal-shaped holding fabric may have length for each of the sixsides so as to make the ball stopping net is stable when deployed andimpacted by a ball with a predetermined force or less.

The ball stopping net may further comprise a connecting bar configuredto connect the lower end of the two propping poles.

The loop may be collapsible.

Each one of the first and second queuing holes may further comprise astopper connected to the fabric side-holder, and the stopper has astopping hole where the end of the poles are received and held in place.

Each of the fold-butting poles may be folded upward only.

Alternatively, each of the fold-butting poles may be folded downwardonly.

Another aspect of the invention provides a ball stopping net comprisinga loop, propping poles, fold-butting poles, hexagonal-shaped holdingfabrics, and a net.

The loop has a top portion and two side portion.

Each of the two propping poles comprises an upper end and a lower end,and the upper end is curved and engaged rotatably with a mid point of acorresponding side portion of the loop.

Each of the two fold-butting poles comprises a first arm and a secondarm engaging each other with a hinge, and the first arm is connected toa lower point of the loop rotatably and the second arm is connected to alower point of a corresponding propping pole rotatably, such that thehinge is configured to be folded and straightened.

Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics has three queuing sidesand three plain sides alternatively, and each of the three queuing sidesis configured to hold one of the side portion of the loop, the proppingpoles, and the fold-butting pole that are queued through the queuingside of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric.

The net with edges is attached to the loop, and the net is configured toreceive, decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile therein.

The queuing sides holding the loop and the propping pole may be providedin fixed forms.

The queuing side holding the fold-butting pole may be provideddetachably.

The hexagonal-shaped holding fabric may have length for each of the sixsides so as to make the loop and the propping poles form an anglesmaller than 90 degrees when deployed.

The upper arm of the propping pole may meet the loop about with a rightangle.

The ball stopping net may further comprise a connecting bar configuredto connect the lower end of the two propping poles.

The loop may be collapsible.

The loop may further comprise a top-holding flap, and the top-holdingflap comprises two corner pipe hook portions for fixing to two topcorners of the loop.

Each of the fold-butting poles may be folded upward only.

Each of the fold-butting poles may be folded downward only.

Another aspect of the invention provides a ball stopping net comprisinga main frame, propping poles, fold-butting poles, hexagonal-shapedholding fabrics, and a net.

The main frame has a top portion and two side portion.

Each of the two propping poles comprises an upper end and a lower end,and the upper end is curved and engaged rotatably with a mid point of acorresponding side portion of the main frame.

Each of the two fold-butting poles comprises a first arm and a secondarm engaging each other with a hinge, and the first arm is connected toa lower point of the main frame rotatably and the second arm isconnected to a lower point of a corresponding propping pole rotatably,such that the hinge is configured to be folded and straightened.

Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics has three queuing sidesand three plain sides alternatingly, and each of the three queuing sidesis configured to hold one of the side portion of the main frame, thepropping poles, and the fold-butting pole that are queued through thequeuing side of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric.

The net with edges is attached to the main frame, and configured toreceive, decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile therein.

The queuing sides holding the main frame and the propping pole may beprovided in fixed forms.

The queuing side holding the fold-butting pole may be provideddetachably.

The hexagonal-shaped holding fabric may have length for each of the sixsides so as to make the main frame and the propping poles form an anglesmaller than 90 degrees when deployed.

The upper arm of the propping pole may meet the main frame about with aright angle.

The ball stopping net may further comprise a connecting bar configuredto connect the lower end of the two propping poles.

Each of the fold-butting poles may be folded upward only. Alternatively,each of the fold-butting poles may be folded downward only.

Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics may comprise an elasticfabric portion, and each of the three queuing sides comprises a pipehook.

The net may comprises: two grounding hole through which a bottom end ofone of the side portions is queued and fixed to a ground; and aplurality of hooks, each of which being configured to be detachablyhooked around a corresponding one of a plurality of ring-shaped groovesprovided around the main frame.

The advantages of the present invention are: (1) the ball stopping netprovides a sturdy structure; and (2) the ball stopping net is easy toinstall and maintain.

Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fullerunderstanding of the invention can be obtained by the followingdrawings, detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a ball stopping net according to anembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection between a lower endand a main frame;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a hook according to an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a pipe hook before engagingaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a pipe hook after engagingaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing fold-butting poles when extendedand lock in place;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing fold-butting poles when foldeddownward;

FIG. 8 is a top view showing a hexagonal-shaped holding fabric accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a top view showing a hexagonal-shaped holding fabric with adetachable side according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a ball stopping net according toanother embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a hexagonal-shaped holding fabricin FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a stopper in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a ball stopping net according tostill another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a hexagonal-shaped holding fabricinstalled in an upper position with fold-butting poles when extended andlock in place according to still another embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a hexagonal-shaped holding fabricinstalled in a lower position with fold-butting poles when extended andlock in place according to still another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide a ball stopping net, which canbe installed and maintained conveniently.

As shown in FIGS. 10-13, an aspect of the invention provides a ballstopping net 200 comprising a loop 210, four fabric corner-holders 220,four fabric side-holders 230, two propping poles 240, two fold-buttingpoles 250, two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics 260, and a net 270.

The loop 210 has a top portion, two side portions, and a bottom portion.Even though they are not numbered in the figures, the top, side, andbottom portions are for indicating the locations of correspondingportions and evident from their names.

The four fabric corner-holders 220 are provided at four corners of theloop 210 and configured to hold and make a substantially rectangularshape when deployed as shown in FIG. 10.

The four fabric side-holders 230 are provided at four sides on the loop210 and configured to hold the four sides on the loop 210 as shown inFIG. 10.

Each of the two propping poles 240 comprises an upper end and a lowerend, and the upper end engages with a first queuing hole 232 provided atan upper point of a corresponding fabric side-holder 230 of the loop 210and the lower end is anchored on a ground point behind the loop 210.

Each of the two fold-butting poles 250 comprises a first arm and asecond arm engaging each other with a hinge, and the first arm engageswith a second queuing hole 234 provided at a lower point of acorresponding fabric side-holder 230 of the loop 210 and the second armis connected to a lower point of a corresponding propping pole 240rotatably, such that the hinge is configured to be folded andstraightened as shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 10.

Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics 260 has three queuingsides and three plain sides alternatingly, and each of the three queuingsides is configured to hold or fixed to one of the side portion orfabric side-holder 230 enclosing the loop 210, the propping poles 240,and the fold-butting pole 250 that are queued through the queuing sideof the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric 260 as shown in FIG. 11.

The net 270 with edges is attached to the loop 210 or the four fabriccorner-holders 220 and the four fabric side-holders 230 enclosing theloop 210, and the net 270 is configured to receive, decelerate, stop,and hold a projectile like a ball therein.

The queuing side 262 holding the fabric side-holder 230 enclosing theloop 210 may be provided in fixed forms, for example, by sewing. Ofcourse, the fixing method is not limited to that.

The queuing sides 264, 266 holding the propping pole 240 and thefold-butting pole 250 may be provided detachably as in FIG. 9.

Each of the queuing sides 264, 266 holding the propping pole 240 and thefold-butting pole 250 may comprise a queuing hole 267 provided throughan edge of the queuing side.

The hexagonal-shaped holding fabric 260 may have length for each of thesix sides so as to make the ball stopping net 200 is stable whendeployed and impacted by a ball with a predetermined force or less.

The ball stopping net 200 may further comprise a connecting bar 280configured to connect the lower end of the two propping poles 240.

The loop 210 may be collapsible or coilable. And, the looseness andfixing styles of the fabrics disposed around the loop 210 may beconfigured so as to make the ball stopping net 200 (with the poles takenout, of course) collapsible.

Each one of the first and second queuing holes 232, 234 may furthercomprise a stopper 282, 284 connected to the fabric side-holder 230, andthe stopper 282, 284 has a stopping hole 283 where the end tip of thepoles 240, 250 are received and held in place as shown in FIG. 12.

Each of the fold-butting poles 250 may be folded upward only (notshown).

Alternatively, each of the fold-butting poles 250 may be folded downwardonly as shown in FIG. 7.

Another aspect of the invention provides a ball stopping net 300 asshown in FIG. 13, which is simplified because the details are verysimilar to FIG. 10.

The ball stopping net 300 a loop 310, four fabric corner-holders (notshown but just like 220), four fabric side-holders (not shown but justlike 230), two propping poles 340, two base poles 350, each of whichcomprising extending from a lower corner of the loop 310, twohexagonal-shaped holding fabrics 360, each of which having three queuingsides and three plain sides alternatingly, wherein each of the threequeuing sides is configured to hold one of the side portion of the loop,the propping poles, and the base pole that are queued through thequeuing side of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric, and a net withedges attached to the loop, the net being configured to receive,decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile therein. The two base poles 350may be connected with another pole 380. The base poles 350 and the pole380 may form a portion of anther collapsible loop or coil like the loop310.

As shown in FIGS. 1-9, still another aspect of the invention provides aball stopping net 100 comprising a loop 10, propping poles 20,fold-butting poles 30, hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics 40, and a net 50as shown in FIG. 1.

The loop 10 has a top portion 12 and two side portion 14. Of course, theloop 10 has a bottom portion forming a closed loop along with the topportion 12 and the two side portion 14.

Each of the two propping poles 20 comprises an upper end 22 and a lowerend 24, and the upper end 22 is curved and engaged rotatably with a midpoint of a corresponding side portion 14 of the loop 10.

The exact location of the mid point of the side portion 14 may bedetermined appropriately so as to give a proper erecting angle of thetho loop 10 with respect to the ground and maximizes the stability ofthe ball stopping net 100. In certain embodiments, the erecting anglemay be from about 5 degrees to about 15 degrees, and the midpoint may beat the exact midpoint of the side portion 14 or upper than that. In anextreme case, the midpoint can be at a top end of the side portion 14.

Each of the two fold-butting poles 30 comprises a first arm 32 and asecond arm 34 engaging each other with a hinge 33, and the first arm 32is connected to a lower point of the loop 10 rotatably (with an hinge)and the second arm 34 is connected to a lower point of a correspondingpropping pole 20 rotatably (with an hinge), such that the hinge 33 isconfigured to be folded and straightened as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics 40 has three queuingsides 42 and three plain sides 44 alternatively, and each of the threequeuing sides 42 is configured to hold one of the side portion of theloop 10, the propping pole 20, and the fold-butting pole 30 that arequeued through the queuing side 42 of the hexagonal-shaped holdingfabric 40 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The net 50 with edges is attached to the loop, and the net 50 isconfigured to receive, decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile like aball therein.

In each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics 40, the queuingsides 42 holding the loop 10 and the propping pole 20 may be provided infixed forms such as a tube structure provided along the edge of thefabric as shown in FIG. 8.

The queuing side 42 holding the fold-butting pole 30 may be provideddetachably as shown in FIG. 9. The detachable queuing side 42 maycomprise a loop and hook fastener such as a Velcro®.

In certain embodiments, the detachable queuing side 42 may be applied tothe other queuing side 42.

The hexagonal-shaped holding fabric 40 may have length for each of thesix sides so as to make the loop 10 and the propping poles 20 form anangle smaller than 90 degrees when deployed.

The upper arm 22 of the propping pole 20 may meet the loop 10 about witha right angle.

The ball stopping net 100 may further comprise a connecting bar 60configured to connect the lower end of the two propping poles 20 asshown in FIG. 1.

The loop 10 may be collapsible.

The loop 10 may further comprise a top-holding flap 70, and thetop-holding flap 70 comprises two corner pipe hook portions 72 forfixing to two top corners of the loop 10 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Each of the fold-butting poles 30 may be folded upward only (not shown).

Each of the fold-butting poles 30 may be folded downward only as shownin FIG. 7.

Another aspect of the invention provides a ball stopping net 100comprising a main frame 10, propping poles, fold-butting poles,hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics, and a net, which can be describedusing FIGS. 1-9. Actually, FIGS. 1-9 are more for this second embodimentrather than the first embodiment in the above. The only differencebetween the first and second embodiments is the main frame 10 instead ofthe loop. The reference numeral 10 is shared by them.

The main frame 10 has a top portion and two side portion.

Each of the two propping poles 20 comprises an upper end and a lowerend, and the upper end is curved and engaged rotatably with a mid pointof a corresponding side portion of the main frame.

Each of the two fold-butting poles 30 comprises a first arm and a secondarm engaging each other with a hinge, and the first arm is connected toa lower point of the main frame rotatably and the second arm isconnected to a lower point of a corresponding propping pole rotatably,such that the hinge is configured to be folded and straightened.

Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics 40 has three queuingsides and three plain sides alternatingly, and each of the three queuingsides is configured to hold one of the side portion of the main frame,the propping poles, and the fold-butting pole that are queued throughthe queuing side of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric.

The net 50 with edges is attached to the main frame, and configured toreceive, decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile therein.

The queuing sides holding the main frame and the propping pole may beprovided in fixed forms.

The queuing side holding the fold-butting pole may be provideddetachably.

The hexagonal-shaped holding fabric may have length for each of the sixsides so as to make the main frame and the propping poles form an anglesmaller than 90 degrees when deployed.

The upper arm of the propping pole may meet the main frame about with aright angle.

The ball stopping net may further comprise a connecting bar 60configured to connect the lower end of the two propping poles.

Each of the fold-butting poles may be folded upward only. Alternatively,each of the fold-butting poles may be folded downward only.

Each of the two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics may comprise an elasticfabric portion, and each of the three queuing sides comprises a pipehook just like the pipe hook 72 for the top-holding flap 70.

The net 50 may comprises: two grounding holes 52, provided at anextended flap end of the net 50, through which a bottom end of one ofthe side portions 14 is queued and fixed to a ground; and a plurality ofhooks 54, each of which being configured to be detachably hooked arounda corresponding one of a plurality of ring-shaped grooves 16 providedaround the main frame 10 as shown FIGS. 2 and 3. Each of the pluralityof hooks 54, may comprise at least two fastening holes 58 configured tobe fixed to the net 50, so that the hook 54 is not rotate.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball stopping net100 further comprises two pipe sacs 80., which is provided around thelower part of the main frame 10 and hold it.

The ball stopping net 100 still further comprises a holding strap 90 forconnecting and holding the lower part of the main frame 10 and hold it.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in certain embodiments, a hexagonal-shapedholding fabric 40 may be installed in upper and lower positions withfold-butting poles 30, 250 when extended and lock in place according tostill another embodiment of the invention. As illustrated, in thehexagonal-shaped holding fabric 40, the sides thereof can be of anyconvenient length to accommodate the locations and directions.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference todifferent embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilledin the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operationmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ball stopping net comprising: a loop having atop portion, two side portions, and a bottom portion; four fabriccorner-holders provided at four corners of the loop and configured tohold and make a substantially rectangular shape when deployed; fourfabric side-holders provided at four sides on the loop and configured tohold the four sides on the loop; two propping poles, each of whichcomprising an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upper end engageswith a first queuing hole provided at an upper point of a correspondingfabric side-holder of the loop and the lower end is anchored on a groundpoint behind the loop; two fold-butting poles, each of which comprisinga first arm and a second arm engaging each other with a hinge, whereinthe first arm engages with a second queuing hole provided at a lowerpoint of a corresponding fabric side-holder of the loop and the secondarm is connected to a lower point of a corresponding propping polerotatably, such that the hinge is configured to be folded andstraightened; two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics, each of which havingthree queuing sides and three plain sides alternatingly, wherein each ofthe three queuing sides is configured to hold one of the side portion ofthe loop, the propping poles, and the fold-butting pole that are queuedthrough the queuing side of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric; and anet with edges attached to the loop, the net being configured toreceive, decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile therein.
 2. The ballstopping net of claim 1, wherein the queuing sides holding the loop areprovided in fixed forms.
 3. The ball stopping net of claim 1, whereinthe queuing sides holding the propping pole and the fold-butting poleare provided detachably.
 4. The ball stopping net of claim 3, whereineach of the queuing sides holding the propping pole and the fold-buttingpole comprises a queuing hole provided through an edge of the queuingside.
 5. The ball stopping net of claim 1, wherein the hexagonal-shapedholding fabric has length for each of the six sides so as to make theball stopping net is stable when deployed and impacted by a ball with apredetermined force or less.
 6. The ball stopping net of claim 1,further comprising a connecting bar configured to connect the lower endof the two propping poles.
 7. The ball stopping net of claim 1, whereinthe loop is collapsible.
 8. The ball stopping net of claim 1, whereineach one of the first and second queuing holes further comprises astopper connected to the fabric side-holder, wherein the stopper has astopping hole where the end of the poles are received and held in place.9. The ball stopping net of claim 1, wherein each of the fold-buttingpoles is folded downward only or upward only.
 10. A ball stopping netcomprising: a loop having a top portion, two side portions, and a bottomportion; four fabric corner-holders provided at four corners of the loopand configured to hold and make a substantially rectangular shape whendeployed; four fabric side-holders provided at four sides on the loopand configured to hold the four sides on the loop; two propping poles,each of which comprising an upper end and a lower end, wherein the upperend engages with a first queuing hole provided at an upper point of acorresponding fabric side-holder of the loop and the lower end isanchored on a ground point behind the loop; two base poles, each ofwhich comprising extending from a lower corner of the loop; twohexagonal-shaped holding fabrics, each of which having three queuingsides and three plain sides alternatingly, wherein each of the threequeuing sides is configured to hold one of the side portion of the loop,the propping poles, and the base pole that are queued through thequeuing side of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric; and a net withedges attached to the loop, the net being configured to receive,decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile therein.
 11. A ball stopping netcomprising: a main frame having a top portion and two side portion; twopropping poles, each of which comprising an upper end and a lower end,wherein the upper end is curved and engaged rotatably with a mid pointof a corresponding side portion of the main frame; two fold-buttingpoles, each of which comprising a first arm and a second arm engagingeach other with a hinge, wherein the first arm is connected to a lowerpoint of the main frame rotatably and the second arm is connected to alower point of a corresponding propping pole rotatably, such that thehinge is configured to be folded and straightened; two hexagonal-shapedholding fabrics, each of which having three queuing sides and threeplain sides alternatingly, wherein each of the three queuing sides isconfigured to hold one of the side portion of the main frame, thepropping poles, and the fold-butting pole that are queued through thequeuing side of the hexagonal-shaped holding fabric; and a net withedges attached to the main frame, the net being configured to receive,decelerate, stop, and hold a projectile therein.
 12. The ball stoppingnet of claim 11, wherein the queuing sides holding the main frame andthe propping pole are provided in fixed forms.
 13. The ball stopping netof claim 11, wherein the queuing side holding the fold-butting pole isprovided detachably.
 14. The ball stopping net of claim 11, wherein thehexagonal-shaped holding fabric has length for each of the six sides soas to make the main frame and the propping poles form an angle smallerthan 90 degrees when deployed.
 15. The ball stopping net of claim 14,wherein the upper arm of the propping pole meets the main frame aboutwith a right angle.
 16. The ball stopping net of claim 11, furthercomprising a connecting bar configured to connect the lower end of thetwo propping poles.
 17. The ball stopping net of claim 11, wherein eachof the fold-butting poles is folded upward only.
 18. The ball stoppingnet of claim 11, wherein each of the fold-butting poles is foldeddownward only.
 19. The ball stopping net of claim 11, wherein each ofthe two hexagonal-shaped holding fabrics comprises an elastic fabricportion, wherein each of the three queuing sides comprises a pipe hook.20. The ball stopping net of claim 11, wherein the net comprises: twogrounding hole through which a bottom end of one of the side portions isqueued and fixed to a ground; and a plurality of hooks, each of whichbeing configured to be detachably hooked around a corresponding one of aplurality of ring-shaped grooves provided around the main frame.